John Williams: Difference between revisions

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}

{{Infobox person

| birth_name = John Towner Williams

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1932|2|8}}

}}

 

 

 

 

 

==Early life and family==

John Towner Williams was born in [[Flushing, Queens]], New York City, to Esther (née Towner) and [[Johnny Williams (drummer)|Johnny Williams]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.revistaesfinge.com/?p=569|title=John Williams, el compositor de la aventura|publisher=Revista Esfinge|access-date=April 30, 2012|archive-date=May 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130516131406/http://www.revistaesfinge.com/?p=569|url-status=live}}</ref> a jazz drummer and percussionist who played with the [[Raymond Scott]] Quintet. He has an older sister, Joan,<ref>{{cite news |title=Johnny Williams Appears In Film With Sonja Henie |work=Bath Independent |date=March 8, 1938}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Marzlock |first1=Ron |title=Da dum. Da dum. 'Jaws' composer John Williams started here |url=https://www.qchron.com/qboro/i_have_often_walked/da-dum-da-dum-jaws-composer-john-williams-started-here/article_a0a443dc-f7a8-5a16-8189-5c1baa5ed444.html |website=[[Queens Chronicle]] |date=April 2021 |access-date=September 14, 2023 |archive-date=September 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230929124229/https://www.qchron.com/qboro/i_have_often_walked/da-dum-da-dum-jaws-composer-john-williams-started-here/article_a0a443dc-f7a8-5a16-8189-5c1baa5ed444.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and two younger brothers, Jerry and Don, who play on his film scores.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Greiving |first1=Tim |title=John Williams' early life: How a NoHo kid and UCLA Bruin became the movie music man |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-et-cm-john-williams-early-life-20180718-story.html |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=July 18, 2018 |access-date=September 14, 2023 |archive-date=February 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190206065718/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-et-cm-john-williams-early-life-20180718-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Williams said of his lineage: "My father was a [[Maine]] man—we were very close. My mother was from [[Boston]]. My father's parents ran a department store in [[Bangor, Maine]], and my mother's father was a cabinetmaker."<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Thomas|first1=David|title=The King of Popcorn|journal=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=October 25, 1997|page=10s}}</ref> Johnny Williams collaborated with [[Bernard Herrmann]], and his son sometimes joined him in rehearsals.<ref>{{cite magazine| last=Ross| first=Alex| title=The Force Is Still Strong With John Williams| date=July 21, 2020| magazine=[[The New Yorker]]| url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/persons-of-interest/the-force-is-still-strong-with-john-williams| access-date=August 24, 2020| archive-date=November 1, 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101005324/https://www.newyorker.com/culture/persons-of-interest/the-force-is-still-strong-with-john-williams| url-status=live}}</ref>

 

 

In 1955, following his Air Force service, Williams moved to New York City and entered [[Juilliard School|Juilliard]], where he studied piano with [[Rosina Lhévinne]].<ref name="sony classical williams biography" /> He was originally set on becoming a concert pianist, but after hearing contemporary pianists like [[John Browning (pianist)|John Browning]] and [[Van Cliburn]] perform, he switched his focus to composition.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lunden |first1=Jeff |title=John Williams's Inevitable Themes |url=https://www.apr.org/post/john-williams-inevitable-themes |website=Alabama Public Radio |date=November 10, 2012 |access-date=July 15, 2021 |archive-date=October 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028164603/http://apr.org/post/john-williams-inevitable-themes |url-status=live }}</ref> "It became clear," he recalled, "that I could write better than I could play."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our American Roots Program Notes |url=https://newwestsymphony.org/arpn/ |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=New West Symphony |language=en-US}}</ref> During this time Williams worked as a pianist in many of the city's jazz clubs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=John Williams: Compositions, movies, age and awards revealed |url=https://www.classicfm.com/composers/williams/guides/facts-williams/ |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=Classic FM |language=en}}</ref>

After his studies at Juilliard and the [[Eastman School of Music]], Williams went to Los Angeles where he began working as an [[Orchestration|orchestrator]] at film studios. Williams worked with such composers as [[Franz Waxman]], [[Bernard Herrmann]] and [[Alfred Newman]], and with fellow orchestrators [[Conrad Salinger]] and Bob Franklyn.<ref>''Films & Filming'', vol. 24, 1977, p. 32</ref>

 

 

Known as Johnny Williams during this period, he released several jazz albums under this name, including ''Jazz Beginnings'', ''World on a String,'' and ''The John Towner Touch''.<ref name="Los Angeles Times"/> Williams also served as music arranger and bandleader for a series of popular music albums with the singers [[Ray Vasquez]] and [[Frankie Laine]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fiA0zbl1LcoC&pg=PA14|title=A Musical Biography of John Williams|first=Tom|last=Barton|access-date=December 31, 2015|archive-date=November 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231115135130/https://books.google.com/books?id=fiA0zbl1LcoC&pg=PA14#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dizlCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT394|title=100 Things Star Wars Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die|first=Dan|last=Casey|publisher=Triumph Books|date=November 1, 2015|access-date=December 31, 2015|isbn=978-1-63319-345-1|archive-date=November 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231115135241/https://books.google.com/books?id=dizlCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT394#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{further|List of compositions by John Williams}}

[[File:Johnwilliams2006.JPG|thumb|upright=0.95|Williams at the Boston Symphony Hall after conducting the Boston Pops, May 2006]]

 

=== 1954–1973: Rise to prominence ===

 

 

=== 1974–present: Collaborations with Steven Spielberg ===

[[File:John Williams scoring Raiders.jpg|thumb|left|John Williams conducting the score to ''Raiders of the Lost Ark'' in the Avery Fisher Hall in 2007]]

 

 

 

In 2011, after a three-year hiatus from film scoring, Williams composed the scores for Spielberg's [[The Adventures of Tintin (film)|''The Adventures of Tintin'']] and [[War Horse (film)|''War Horse'']]. The former was his first score for an animated film, and he employed various styles, including "1920s, 1930s European jazz" for the opening credits and "pirate music" for the maritime battles. Both scores received overwhelmingly positive reviews<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.filmtracks.com/titles/tintin.html|title=The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn (John Williams)|website=Filmtracks|access-date=April 30, 2012|archive-date=February 28, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130228041742/http://www.filmtracks.com/titles/tintin.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.filmtracks.com/titles/war_horse.html|title=War Horse (John Williams)|website=Filmtracks|date=November 21, 2011|access-date=April 30, 2012|archive-date=March 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130302182722/http://filmtracks.com/titles/war_horse.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.moviecues.com/tintin|title=The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn (John Williams)|website=Moviecues|date=November 1, 2011|access-date=April 30, 2012|archive-date=April 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426052032/http://www.moviecues.com/tintin/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.moviecues.com/war-horse|title=War Horse (John Williams)|website=Moviecues|date=December 4, 2011|access-date=April 30, 2012|archive-date=April 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426052148/http://www.moviecues.com/war-horse/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://moviemusicuk.us/2011/10/23/the-adventures-of-tintin-the-secret-of-the-unicorn-john-williams|title=The Adventures Of Tintin: The Secret Of The Unicorn&nbsp;– John Williams|website=Moviemusicuk.us|date=October 23, 2011|access-date=April 30, 2012|archive-date=June 6, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120606230459/http://moviemusicuk.us/2011/10/23/the-adventures-of-tintin-the-secret-of-the-unicorn-john-williams/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.movie-wave.net/?p=1883|title=The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn soundtrack review|date=December 4, 2011|website=Movie-wave.net|access-date=April 30, 2012|archive-date=April 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130406132559/http://www.movie-wave.net/?p=1883|url-status=live}}</ref> and earned Academy Award nominations,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/84/nominees.html|title=Winners for the 84th Academy Awards|website=Oscars.org|access-date=April 30, 2012|archive-date=August 25, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130825202636/http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/84/nominees.html|url-status=live}}</ref> the latter also being nominated for a Golden Globe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goldenglobes.org/blog/2011/12/the-69th-annual-golden-globe-awards-nominations|title=The 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards Nominations |website=Official Website of the HFPA and the Golden Globe Awards|date=December 15, 2011|access-date=April 30, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120507232315/http://www.goldenglobes.org/blog/2011/12/the-69th-annual-golden-globe-awards-nominations/|archive-date=May 7, 2012}}</ref> The Oscar nominations were Williams's 46th and 47th, making him the most nominated musician in Academy Award history (having previously been tied with [[Alfred Newman (composer)|Alfred Newman]]'s 45 nominations) and the second most nominated overall, behind [[Walt Disney]]. Williams won an [[Annie Awards|Annie Award]] for his score for ''Tintin''. In 2012, he scored Spielberg's [[Lincoln (film)|''Lincoln'']], for which he received his 48th Academy Award nomination.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.johnwilliams.org/reference/awards|title=John Williams {{!}} Awards|website=Johnwilliams.org|access-date=December 12, 2019|archive-date=January 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200117075634/http://www.johnwilliams.org/reference/awards|url-status=live}}</ref> He was also set to write the score for [[Bridge of Spies (film)|''Bridge of Spies'']] that year, which would have been his 27th collaboration with Spielberg,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Fischer|first1=Russ|title=New Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks Film Titled 'Bridge of Spies,' John Williams Confirmed to Score|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/536572/bridge-of-spies/|access-date=May 13, 2022|website=/Film|date=March 3, 2015|archive-date=May 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513050535/https://www.slashfilm.com/536572/bridge-of-spies/|url-status=live}}</ref> but in March 2015, it was announced that [[Thomas Newman]] would score it instead, as Williams's schedule was interrupted by a minor health issue.<ref>{{cite news|title=Thomas Newman Replaces Williams on 'Bridge of Spies'|url=http://www.jwfan.com/?p=7446|access-date=March 18, 2015|website=John Williams Fan Network|date=March 18, 2015|archive-date=March 20, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150320152957/http://www.jwfan.com/?p=7446|url-status=live}}</ref> This was the first Spielberg film since [[The Color Purple (1985 film)|''The Color Purple'']] (1985) not scored by Williams.<ref name="The Verge">{{cite web|title=John Williams won't score a Steven Spielberg film for the first time in 30 years|url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/3/18/8243915/john-williams-not-scoring-spielberg-film|access-date=June 8, 2015|website=The Verge|date=March 18, 2015|archive-date=June 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150607111901/http://www.theverge.com/2015/3/18/8243915/john-williams-not-scoring-spielberg-film|url-status=live}}</ref> Williams composed the scores for Spielberg's fantasy [[The BFG (2016 film)|''The BFG'']] and his drama [[The Post (film)|''The Post'']] (2017).<ref name="Silvestri">{{cite news|last1=Burlingame|first1=Jon|title=John Williams and Alan Silvestri to Score Steven Spielberg's Next Films (EXCLUSIVE)|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/john-williams-alan-silvestri-steven-spielberg-ready-player-one-the-papers-1202490105/|access-date=July 8, 2017|work=Variety|date=July 7, 2017|archive-date=July 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709055735/https://variety.com/2017/film/news/john-williams-alan-silvestri-steven-spielberg-ready-player-one-the-papers-1202490105/|url-status=live}}</ref>

 

=== Other film and television works ===

 

For ''Family Plot'', Hitchcock told Williams to remember one thing: "Murder can be fun." He tipped his hat to Hitchcock's frequent composer, [[Bernard Herrmann]], and Hitchcock was pleased with the result. Williams would follow a similar approach when scoring [[Brian de Palma]]'s [[The Fury (film)|''The Fury'']] (1978). Kael called Williams "a major collaborator" on the film, writing that he had "composed what may be as apt and delicately varied a score as any horror movie has ever had. He scares us without banshee melodramatics. He sets the mood under the opening titles: otherworldly, seductively frightening. The music cues us in."<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Kael |first=Pauline |date=March 20, 1978 |title=Shivers |magazine=The New Yorker}}</ref>

 

 

In 1985, NBC commissioned Williams to compose a [[television news music]] package for various network news spots. The package, which Williams named "[[The Mission (theme music)|The Mission]]", consists of four movements, two of which are still used heavily by NBC today for ''[[Today (NBC program)|Today]]'', ''[[NBC Nightly News]]'' and ''[[Meet the Press]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kaplan |first1=Peter |date=September 10, 1985 |title=John Williams Creates Themes for NBC News |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/09/10/arts/john-williams-creates-themes-for-nbc-news.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715180315/https://www.nytimes.com/1985/09/10/arts/john-williams-creates-themes-for-nbc-news.html |archive-date=July 15, 2021 |access-date=July 15, 2021 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> In 1987, Williams scored [[George Miller (filmmaker)|George Miller]]'s [[The Witches of Eastwick (film)|''The Witches of Eastwick'']]. In his Oscar-nominated score for [[Lawrence Kasdan]]'s [[The Accidental Tourist (film)|''The Accidental Tourist'']] (1988),<ref>{{Cite web |title=The 61st Academy Awards, 1989 |url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1989 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417063017/https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1989 |archive-date=April 17, 2018 |access-date=April 3, 2022 |website=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences |date=October 5, 2014 |language=en}}</ref> Williams developed the two main theme sections in different ways, turning the mood lighter or darker through orchestration and an unexpected use of synthesizers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Southall |first=James |date=2008 |title=Williams: The Accidental Tourist |url=http://www.movie-wave.net/titles/accidental_tourist.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811213155/http://www.movie-wave.net/titles/accidental_tourist.html |archive-date=August 11, 2022 |access-date=April 3, 2022 |website=Movie Wave}}</ref>

 

 

Williams scored the 2013 film ''[[The Book Thief (film)|The Book Thief]]'',<ref>{{cite web |date=August 6, 2013 |title=John Williams to Score 'The Book Thief' |url=http://filmmusicreporter.com/2013/08/06/john-williams-to-score-the-book-thief/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208123731/http://filmmusicreporter.com/2013/08/06/john-williams-to-score-the-book-thief/ |archive-date=December 8, 2015 |access-date=August 6, 2013 |publisher=Film Music Reporter}}</ref> his first collaboration with a director other than Spielberg since 2005. The score earned him an Academy Award, Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations and a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition. It was his 44th nomination for [[Academy Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score]] (and 49th overall), setting a new record for the most nominations in that category (he tied [[Alfred Newman (composer)|Alfred Newman]]'s record of 43 nominations in 2013).<ref name="oscars" /><ref>[http://awardsdatabase.oscars.org/ampas_awards/help/helpMain.jsp?helpContentURL=statistics/indexStats.html "Nominee Facts – Most nominations and Awards"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701093205/http://awardsdatabase.oscars.org/ampas_awards/help/helpMain.jsp?helpContentURL=statistics%2FindexStats.html|date=July 1, 2016}}, ''Academy Awards Database'', Retrieved November 30, 2015</ref> In 2017, Williams scored the animated short film ''[[Dear Basketball]]'', directed by [[Glen Keane]] and based on a poem by [[Kobe Bryant]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=May 5, 2016 |title=Kobe Bryant Inks Sports Illustrated Deal for 'Dear Basketball' Animated Film |url=https://variety.com/2016/digital/news/kobe-bryant-dear-basketball-film-sports-illustrated-1201767225/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160608064159/http://variety.com/2016/digital/news/kobe-bryant-dear-basketball-film-sports-illustrated-1201767225/ |archive-date=June 8, 2016 |access-date=June 10, 2016 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Burlingame |first=Jon |date=January 11, 2018 |title=Kobe Bryant Scores With Composer John Williams for 'Dear Basketball' |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/spotlight/kobe-bryant-scores-with-composer-john-williams-for-dear-basketball-1202662215/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180113093030/http://variety.com/2018/film/spotlight/kobe-bryant-scores-with-composer-john-williams-for-dear-basketball-1202662215/ |archive-date=January 13, 2018 |access-date=January 12, 2018 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> In 2023, he was commissioned by [[ESPN]] to write an original composition titled "Of Grit and Glory" for the [[2023 College Football Playoff National Championship]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brooks |first=Amanda |date=2023-01-09 |title=Legendary Composer John Williams Creates Original Score for ESPN's College Football Playoff National Championship Presented by AT&T |url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2023/01/legendary-composer-john-williams-creates-original-score-for-espns-college-football-playoff-national-championship-presented-by-att/ |access-date=2024-04-16 |website=ESPN Press Room U.S. |language=en-US}}</ref>

Williams composed the ''[[Liberty Fanfare]]'' for the [[Statue of Liberty]]'s rededication; "We're Lookin' Good!" for the Special Olympics in celebration of the 1987 International Summer Games; and themes for the 1984, 1988, 1996 and 2002 Olympic Games. One of his concert works, ''Seven for Luck'', for soprano and orchestra, is a seven-piece song cycle based on the texts of former U.S. poet laureate [[Rita Dove]]. It had its world premiere by the Boston Symphony under Williams with soprano [[Cynthia Haymon]].<ref name="concert-works" />

 

Williams makes annual appearances with the [[Los Angeles Philharmonic]] at the [[Hollywood Bowl]], and took part as conductor and composer in the orchestra's opening gala concerts for the [[Walt Disney Concert Hall]] in 2003, which included the premiere of his piece ''Soundings''. In 2004, he served as the Grand Marshal for the [[Rose Parade]] and conducted "[[The Star Spangled Banner]]" at the [[Rose Bowl Game]]. In April 2005, Williams and the Boston Pops performed the "Throne Room Finale" from ''Star Wars'' at opening day in [[Fenway Park]] as the [[Boston Red Sox]], having won their first [[World Series]] championship since 1918, received their championship rings. For Game 1 of the 2007 World Series, Williams conducted a [[brass]]-and-drum [[Musical ensemble|ensemble]] in a new [[consonance and dissonance|dissonant]] [[arrangement]] of "The Star Spangled Banner".<ref name="videos">[http://jwfan.com/index.php?Itemid=50&id=791&option=com_content&task=view "John Williams: Videos"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100806135553/http://www.jwfan.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=791&Itemid=50|date=August 6, 2010}} from the John Williams Fan Network, June 2, 2007.</ref> He composed the [[quartet]] ''[[Air and Simple Gifts]]'' for the first inauguration of [[Barack Obama]]. The piece is based on the hymn "[[Simple Gifts]]", made famous by [[Aaron Copland]] in ''[[Appalachian Spring]]''. Williams chose the theme because he knew Obama admired Copland. It was performed by Yo-Yo Ma, violinist [[Itzhak Perlman]], pianist [[Gabriela Montero]] and clarinetist [[Anthony McGill (musician)|Anthony McGill]].<ref>{{cite news| last=Burlingame| first=Jon| title=Williams' music to Obama's ears| date=January 15, 2009| work=Variety| url=https://variety.com/2009/music/markets-festivals/williams-music-to-obama-s-ears-1117998645/| access-date=December 11, 2023| archive-date=December 11, 2023| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211032719/https://variety.com/2009/music/markets-festivals/williams-music-to-obama-s-ears-1117998645/| url-status=live}}</ref>

 

In 2021, Williams conducted the world premiere of "Overture to the Oscars" at Tanglewood's 2021 "Film Night".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-08-19 |title=Tanglewood's 'Film Night' 2021: Reviews, Photos and More ('Overture to the Oscars' World Premiere) – JOHN WILLIAMS Fan Network – JWFAN |url=https://jwfan.com/?p=13444 |access-date=2024-04-16 |language=en-US}}</ref> This was followed in 2022 by a "Fanfare for Solo Trumpet", written for the reopening of [[David Geffen Hall]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-23 |title=VIDEO: 'Fanfare for Solo Trumpet' – New Williams Work for David Geffen Hall Reopening – JOHN WILLIAMS Fan Network – JWFAN |url=https://jwfan.com/?p=13829 |access-date=2024-04-16 |language=en-US}}</ref> and "Centennial Overture", written in celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the [[Hollywood Bowl]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-04 |title=VIDEO: John Williams Conducts New Fanfare 'Centennial Overture' at the Hollywood Bowl (World Premiere) – JOHN WILLIAMS Fan Network – JWFAN |url=https://jwfan.com/?p=14022 |access-date=2024-04-16 |language=en-US}}</ref> He is currently completing a piano concerto for [[Emanuel Ax]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Coghlan |first=Alexandra |date=2024-04-16 |title=John Williams, film's greatest composer — I'm 91 and haven't retired |newspaper=[[The Times]] |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/john-williams-maestro-of-the-melodic-spark-0w6mbp5fm |access-date=2024-04-16 |language=en |issn=0140-0460}}</ref>

 

In February 2004, April 2006, and September 2007, Williams conducted the [[New York Philharmonic]] at [[Avery Fisher Hall]] in New York City. The initial program was intended to be a one-time special event, and featured Williams's medley of Oscar-winning film scores first performed at the previous year's [[Academy Award]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jwfan.com/?p=2252|title=John Williams: the Art of the Score (review)|website=John Williams Fan Network|first=Johnny|last=Ecks|date=February 12, 2004|access-date=May 22, 2013|archive-date=February 25, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130225074806/http://www.jwfan.com/?p=2252|url-status=live}}</ref> Its unprecedented popularity led to two concerts in 2006, fundraising gala events featuring personal recollections by [[Martin Scorsese]] and [[Steven Spielberg]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/26/arts/music/26will.html|title=Philharmonic and Film: Sound to Bring Pictures to Life|newspaper=The New York Times|date=April 26, 2006|access-date=May 22, 2013|first=Allan|last=Kozinn|archive-date=January 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160111055154/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/26/arts/music/26will.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Chris Matthew Sciabarra, [http://www.nyu.edu/projects/sciabarra/notablog/archives/001129.html "John Williams & the NY Philharmonic"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304125445/http://www.nyu.edu/projects/sciabarra/notablog/archives/001129.html |date=March 4, 2016 }} from ''Notablog'', May 16, 16, 2006.</ref> Continued demand fueled three more concerts in 2007, which all sold out. These featured a tribute to the musicals of [[Stanley Donen]] and served as the New York Philharmonic season's opening event.<ref name=NYP_JW>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/09/arts/music/09classicallistweb.html|title=Classical: Just in Time for Timeless Melodies|access-date=May 22, 2013|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|first=Allan|last=Kozinn|date=September 9, 2007|archive-date=June 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150605042556/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/09/arts/music/09classicallistweb.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Anthony Tommasini, [https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/17/arts/music/17will.html "John Williams: NY Philharmonic (review)"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116200431/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/17/arts/music/17will.html |date=January 16, 2018 }} from ''New York Times'', September 17, 2007.</ref> After a three-season absence, Williams conducted the Philharmonic once again in October 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/john-williams-makes-movie_b_1032296|title=John Williams Makes Movie Music Come Alive|work=Huffington Post|last=Groner|first=Danny|date=October 26, 2011|access-date=May 13, 2022|archive-date=May 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513050535/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/john-williams-makes-movie_b_1032296|url-status=live}}</ref>

 

In 1956, Williams married [[Barbara Ruick]], an American actress and singer, and they remained married until her death in 1974. The couple had three children: Jennifer (Jenny) Williams Gruska (b. 1956), Mark Towner Williams (b. 1958), and [[Joseph Williams (musician)|Joseph Williams]] (b. 1960); the last is best known as the lead singer of [[Toto (band)|Toto]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theslateonline.com/article/2018/10/joseph-williams-talks-about-music-life-during-totos-40th-trip-around-the-sun|title=Joseph Williams talks about music, life during Toto's 40th trip around the sun|website=The Slate|access-date=April 14, 2019|archive-date=April 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414100702/https://www.theslateonline.com/article/2018/10/joseph-williams-talks-about-music-life-during-totos-40th-trip-around-the-sun|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1980, Williams married Samantha Winslow, a photographer.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://people.com/archive/the-boston-pops-gets-a-movie-composer-who-doesnt-chase-fire-engines-as-its-new-boss-vol-13-no-25/|title=The Boston Pops Gets a Movie Composer Who Doesn't Chase Fire Engines as Its New Boss|website=People|access-date=September 22, 2019|archive-date=September 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922181327/https://people.com/archive/the-boston-pops-gets-a-movie-composer-who-doesnt-chase-fire-engines-as-its-new-boss-vol-13-no-25/|url-status=live}}</ref>

 

{{main|List of awards and nominations received by John Williams}}

 

In 2003, the [[International Olympic Committee]] accorded Williams its highest individual honor, the [[Olympic Order]].<ref>{{cite news|title=IOC awards the Olympic Order to John Williams |url=http://www.olympic.org/news?articleid=56284 |publisher=[[IOC]] |date=May 1, 2003 |access-date=December 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131208074408/http://www.olympic.org/news?articleid=56284 |archive-date=December 8, 2013}}</ref> In 2009, Williams received the [[National Medal of Arts]] in the White House in Washington, D.C., for his achievements in symphonic music for films, and "as a pre-eminent composer and conductor [whose] scores have defined and inspired modern movie-going for decades".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-presentation-national-humanities-medal-and-national-medal-arts|title=Remarks by the President at Presentation of the National Humanities Medal and the National Medal of the Arts &#124; The White House|date=February 25, 2010|access-date=July 4, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216154116/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-presentation-national-humanities-medal-and-national-medal-arts|via=[[NARA|National Archives]]|website=[[Whitehouse.gov]]|archive-date=February 16, 2017}}</ref> In 2012, Williams received the [[Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music]].<ref>{{cite web |title=John Williams wins a Lifetime Achievement Award at Classic BRITs 2012 |url=https://www.classicfm.com/events/classic-brit-awards/news/john-williams-be-honoured-classic-brits/ |website=ClassicFM |access-date=December 21, 2020 |archive-date=October 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028152404/https://www.classicfm.com/events/classic-brit-awards/news/john-williams-be-honoured-classic-brits/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2013, Williams was presented with the [[Ken Burns]] Lifetime Achievement Award.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.osv.org/news/film-and-concert-composer-john-williams-to-be-honored-by-documentary-filmmaker-ken-burns-and|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131025040823/http://www.osv.org/news/film-and-concert-composer-john-williams-to-be-honored-by-documentary-filmmaker-ken-burns-and|archive-date=October 25, 2013|title=Ken Burns Lifetime Achievement Award}}</ref> In 2016, Williams was made a ''[[Ordre des Arts et des Lettres|Chevalier De L'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres]]'' – [[Cabinet of France|Government of France]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://losangeles.consulfrance.org/gerard-araud-ambassadeur-de-france-en-visite-a-los-angeles|title=Gérard Araud, Ambassadeur de France en visite à Los Angeles|website=Consulat Général de France à Los Angeles|access-date=January 29, 2021|archive-date=March 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210313132055/https://losangeles.consulfrance.org/gerard-araud-ambassadeur-de-france-en-visite-a-los-angeles|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2018, the performing rights organization [[Broadcast Music, Inc.]] established The John Williams Award, of which Williams became the first recipient.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bmi.com/news/entry/bmi-to-honor-legendary-composer-john-williams-with-special-award-at-film-tv|title=BMI to Honor Legendary Composer John Williams With Special Award at Film, TV & Visual Media Awards|date=April 9, 2018|website=BMI|access-date=December 21, 2020|archive-date=August 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809223353/https://www.bmi.com/news/entry/bmi-to-honor-legendary-composer-john-williams-with-special-award-at-film-tv|url-status=live}}</ref> That same year, Williams received the Grammy [[Grammy Trustees Award|Trustees Award]], a Special Merit Award presented to individuals who, during their careers in music, have made significant contributions other than performance (and some performers through 1983) to the field of recording.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Velez |first1=Jennifer |title=Gustavo Dudamel Awards John Williams On "GRAMMY Salute To Music Legends" |url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/gustavo-dudamel-awards-john-williams-grammy-salute-music-legends |access-date=March 15, 2021 |publisher=The Grammys |date=October 4, 2018 |archive-date=May 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508003930/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/gustavo-dudamel-awards-john-williams-grammy-salute-music-legends |url-status=live }}</ref> He additionally received a President's Medal award from The [[Juilliard School]] and announced during the ceremony that he intended to bequeath his entire library of concert and film music scores, as well as his sketchbooks, to the college.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-03-06 |title=Williams Donates All His Scores to Juilliard – JOHN WILLIAMS Fan Network – JWFAN |url=https://jwfan.com/?p=10617 |access-date=2024-04-16 |language=en-US}}</ref>

 

 

==Concert works==